Nike Receives Patent for Recyclable Golf Ball

[billchao]

http://www.golfdigest.com/blogs/the-loop/2015/01/could-a-recyclable-golf-ball-b.html

Quote:

According to the patent filed, many golf balls are thrown out once they get scuffed despite their cores remaining in good shape. The new technology would create a ball that would contain an extra layer between the cover and the core, which would allow users to remove the initial cover and reuse the rest of the ball.

Interesting. Never thought of the impact that discarded golf balls could have before. I wonder if this is viable and can possibly reduce the cost of golf balls?

[vasaribm]

If the outer layer can be removed, I would question its longevity.  Would an outer layer be able to make it through a whole round?  Also, how would the performance change between a ball with 2 outer layers vs. 1?

[billchao]

If the outer layer can be removed, I would question its longevity.  Would an outer layer be able to make it through a whole round?

As I understand it, the outer layer would be removed through a chemical process. I think that technically makes the outer layer on all balls removable. I've found urethane covers are pretty weak in terms of durability, myself. [quote name="vasaribm" url="/t/79248/nike-receives-patent-for-reclyclable-golf-ball#post_1095266"]Also, how would the performance change between a ball with 2 outer layers vs. 1? [/quote]I'm not sure what you're asking. There can only ever be one "outer" layer. Three piece golf balls have a thin mantle underneath the cover that changes the performance of the ball. Unless you're suggesting two layers of urethane, but the point of using a urethane cover is that it's softer than surlyn so grooves can grip it better. Not sure what value it would add as a mantle layer. I wonder whether recycling balls and reusing the cores would conflict with ball marketing strategies that claim every new design is better than the old one.

[vasaribm]

I misunderstood the nature of the recycling.

Quote:

The new technology would create a ball that would contain an extra layer between the cover and the core, which would allow users to remove the initial cover and reuse the rest of the ball.

My initial thought from the above statement was the "user" referred to guys like you or me.  So, yes, I was envisioning 2 urethane layers and you would have the option to remove the first layer at your disposal.

[dkolo]

As I understand it, the outer layer would be removed through a chemical process. I think that technically makes the outer layer on all balls removable.

I've found urethane covers are pretty weak in terms of durability, myself.

I'm not sure what you're asking. There can only ever be one "outer" layer.

Three piece golf balls have a thin mantle underneath the cover that changes the performance of the ball.

Unless you're suggesting two layers of urethane, but the point of using a urethane cover is that it's softer than surlyn so grooves can grip it better. Not sure what value it would add as a mantle layer.

I wonder whether recycling balls and reusing the cores would conflict with ball marketing strategies that claim every new design is better than the old one.

Is the size of the ball dictated by the governing bodies, or does it just have an upper limit? Stripping off a cover would inherently make it smaller than what we consider standard right now.

Also, Jeez, this whole concept is a solution in search of a problem. I think I've worn out maaaybe three or four balls in my lifetime on the course to the point where I take it out of play? And I think that number is being generous. Even then, they just go into the shag bag and I use them for bunker practice until they get completely worn out from the sand.

[billchao]

I misunderstood the nature of the recycling.

I'm guessing, in practice, you would take your used Nike golf balls to the golf store and they would ship them back to Nike for recycling. I thought it was weird in the article, too, that they said "user" and then went on to describe how it takes a chemical process to remove the old covers. [quote name="dkolo" url="/t/79248/nike-receives-patent-for-recyclable-golf-ball#post_1095318"]Is the size of the ball dictated by the governing bodies, or does it just have an upper limit? Stripping off a cover would inherently make it smaller than what we consider standard right now. [/quote]They would put a new cover on after they strip off the old one. What they're saying is that people throw balls out when the covers are damaged but the cores are usually still good and can be used again. [quote name="dkolo" url="/t/79248/nike-receives-patent-for-recyclable-golf-ball#post_1095318"]Also, Jeez, this whole concept is a solution in search of a problem. I think I've worn out maaaybe three or four balls in my lifetime on the course to the point where I take it out of play? And I think that number is being generous. Even then, they just go into the shag bag and I use them for bunker practice until they get completely worn out from the sand.  [/quote]You throw them out at some point, don't you? Or do you have little colorful spheres lying around everywhere? They end up in a landfill eventually (not mine, most of my golf balls are in a ditch or some patch of woods at a golf course).

[dkolo]

I'm guessing, in practice, you would take your used Nike golf balls to the golf store and they would ship them back to Nike for recycling. I thought it was weird in the article, too, that they said "user" and then went on to describe how it takes a chemical process to remove the old covers. They would put a new cover on after they strip off the old one. What they're saying is that people throw balls out when the covers are damaged but the cores are usually still good and can be used again. You throw them out at some point, don't you? Or do you have little colorful spheres lying around everywhere? They end up in a landfill eventually (not mine, most of my golf balls are in a ditch or some patch of woods at a golf course).

I think we're interpreting the recycling happening differently. I think the article implies that the golfer takes the cover off himself and continues using the rest of the ball. I don't think it's aimed at changing the ultimate end of life of the ball, which is ultimately trash. Recycling in the sense the article is using it is more accurately "extending useful life". I don't think Nike ever gets the ball back in this scenario. The chemical process they mention is the process of making the outer layer removable from the inner layer.

[billchao]

I think we're interpreting the recycling happening differently. I think the article implies that the golfer takes the cover off himself and continues using the rest of the ball. I don't think it's aimed at changing the ultimate end of life of the ball, which is ultimately trash. Recycling in the sense the article is using it is more accurately "extending useful life". I don't think Nike ever gets the ball back in this scenario. The chemical process they mention is the process of making the outer layer removable from the inner layer.

Maybe I'm reading it wrong then? That's not a "recyclable" ball to me, that's simply a ball with two outer layers, like @vasaribm said, which makes the whole idea totally lame.

[dkolo]

Maybe I'm reading it wrong then? That's not a "recyclable" ball to me, that's simply a ball with two outer layers, like @vasaribm said, which makes the whole idea totally lame.

Yeah, I agree, the word recyclable was ill advised or probably "clickbait." I'm basically picturing it as meaning that the outer skin is a tearoff and there's an inner skin for when you decide to ditch the outer layer. At least based on how the article framed it. I concur, the idea seems crazy, which is why I think it's a solution in search of a problem. And realistically it's probably just a patent that covers stuff that'll never see the market in case that patent becomes useful down the line in some other application / blocking another patent.

[Patch]

Probably a good thing to be able recycle range balls. Also a cost saving measure for the driving range being able to buy recycled (repaired) balls instead of brand new ones.

[tmac20]

Seems kind of pointless to typical consumers because most players lose their ball before wearing it out. As @Patch mentioned though, it would be great for range balls.

[dkolo]

Probably a good thing to be able recycle range balls. Also a cost saving measure for the driving range being able to buy recycled (repaired) balls instead of brand new ones.

I don't know. Range balls have to have extremely durable covers because the balls take so much abuse, so designing it to be recyclable would be tough without compromising durability And since they're sold in huge quantities for relatively cheap, I don't know if it'd make sense economically to go through the effort of stripping the old balls, checking the cores for being intact, and recovering them. Refinishing today with just repainting and lacquering only makes economic sense for the most expensive / high end models, and that doesn't do anything with the actual cover. I dunno, I'm just spit-balling the idea.

[Patch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patch

Probably a good thing to be able recycle range balls. Also a cost saving measure for the driving range being able to buy recycled (repaired) balls instead of brand new ones.

I don't know. Range balls have to have extremely durable covers because the balls take so much abuse, so designing it to be recyclable would be tough without compromising durability And since they're sold in huge quantities for relatively cheap, I don't know if it'd make sense economically to go through the effort of stripping the old balls, checking the cores for being intact, and recovering them. Refinishing today with just repainting and lacquering only makes economic sense for the most expensive / high end models, and that doesn't do anything with the actual cover. I dunno, I'm just spit-balling the idea.

I'm thinking that if the course recycles their used range balls, the balls do not need to be durable for a longer period of time. Since the balls are recycled, buying the replacements in larger quantities could be a cost saving measure for the golf course. They have to be cheaper in large quantities than the new balls. Of course the golf course would be stuck with the Nike distributor, but that's not a bad thing either.

I know I have yet to purchase a bucket of balls at any driving range, that did not have more than a few worn out balls in the mix. Perhaps changing out balls sooner would give the golfer more for their practice dollars.

As mentioned above by tmac20 I don't see this helping "Joe Golfer".  I wouldn't buy a recycled golf ball for use with a handicap score. Maybe if not used with range balls, they might dredge ponds and recycle those. Who knows.......film at 11:00

[Club Rat]

I would think they maybe attempting to recover the balls from divers.

Those guys pull tons every year from courses, possibly starting a "buy back" deal.

Then rework the ball at the Nike facility.

Maybe it's cost effective?

Just a guess.

Club Rat